India needs more fighter jets. It cannot build them fast enough
Quick Look
- On October 11, Air Chief Marshal A.P.
- Singh flew an Indian-built Tejas jet in his final fighter sortie at Jodhpur airbase before retiring later this month, demonstrating support for India's domestic defence industry.
- A week earlier, he warned of a critical fighter squadron shortage in the Indian Air Force, stating the need to induct two squadrons annually and produce between 36 and 40 aircraft yearly to reach the target of 42 squadrons in service.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh is retiring later this month after flying his final fighter sortie in an Indian-built Tejas jet at Jodhpur airbase on October 11. A week earlier, he warned of a critical shortage of fighter squadrons in the Indian Air Force.
On October 11 at an airbase in Jodhpur, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh strapped into a Tejas jet for the last time. It was his final fighter sortie before retiring later this month and he flew it in an Indian-built jet to show support for the country’s domestic defence industry.
A week earlier, he had warned that the Indian Air Force (IAF) faced a critical shortage of fighter squadrons. “We need to induct two fighter squadrons every year,” Singh said on October 3, noting that “between 36 and 40 aircraft” would need to be produced annually to meet India’s target of having 42 fighter squadrons in service.
“Actually, we need even more than that,” he said.
Open Questions
- What is the exact date of Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh's retirement?
- How many fighter squadrons does the Indian Air Force currently have in service?
- What is the timeline for producing the required 36 to 40 aircraft annually to meet the squadron target?
